1979 Daytona 6 Hours


1 July 1979 - Daytona (USA): Round 7, World Challenge for Endurance Drivers.
6 hour duration event in which 151 laps of a 3.840 mile/6.180 km circuit - 579.840 miles/933.160 kms were completed.
Weather: hot, humid


Pos. No. Driver / Nationality Car Entrant Laps Time/retired Grid Qual Time
1 6 Dennis Shaw  (USA)
Don Whittington (USA)
Bill Whittington (USA)^
American Motors Spirit Amos Johnson 151 6:00:59,440 5 2:18.092
2 61 Tom Waugh (USA)
Lyn St James (USA)
Buzz Cason (USA)
American Motors Concord Brant Doell 151 6:02:23.820 4 2:17.916
3 38 Roger Mandeville (USA)
Diego Febles (PR)
Mazda RX-3 Roger Mandeville 150   2 2:17.047
4 27 Mike Meyer (USA)
Rusty Bond (USA)
Mazda RX-3 Mike Meyer 150   8 2:18.782
5 7 Amos Johnson (USA)
Dick Barbour (USA)
American Motors Spirit Amos Johnson 148   6 2:18.508
6 44 Carson Baird (USA)
Joe Amato (USA)
American Motors Spirit Joe Amato 148   12 2:19.666
7 99 Kal Showket (USA)
Phil Currin (USA)
American Motors Concord Kal Showket 148   11 2:19.539
8 4 Gary Ouellette (USA)
Tony Garcia (USA)
Mazda RX-2 E.J.Pruitt 148   9 2:18.990
9 91 Warren Phelps (USA)
Bill McDill (USA)
Chevrolet Vega Warren Phelps 146   29 2:25.761
10 52 James Reeve (USA)
Ren Tilton (USA)
Buick Skyhawk Atlanta Racing Enterprises 145 gearbox 62 no time
11 08 Bonky Fernandez (PR)
Keith Swope (USA)
American Motors Spirit S.C.Racing 145   15 2:20.833
12 66 John Maffucci (USA)
Chris Doyle (USA)
Mazda RX-2 Jim Downing 143   30 2:25.984
13 15 Rob Jackson (USA)
Robert Weaver (USA)
American Motors Gremlin Rob Jackson 142   37 2:28.970
14 47 James Crosby (USA)
Bob Crosby (USA)
American Motors Gremlin Bob Crosby 141   27 2:25.626
15 72 Craig Ross (USA)
Charles Mendez (USA)
Datsun 240SX Tampa Bay Racing 140   16 2:20.996
NRF 63 Jim Downing (USA)
John Paul Sr (USA)
Mazda RX-3 Jim Downing 139   3 2:17.368
17 93 Russ Boy (USA)
Art Yarosh (USA)
Don Whittington (USA)^
Bill Whittington (USA)*
American Motors Gremlin Russ Boy 134   26 2:25.625
18 2 Roy Pericles (USA)
Matt Pericles (USA)
Mazda RX-2 Wheels Import 134   42 2:30.073
19 30 Del Russo Taylor (USA)
Steve Edwards (USA)
Dave Yerger (USA)
Alfa Romeo Alfetta Dave Yerger 132   40 2:29.740
20 68 Randy Blue (USA)
John Watterson (USA)
American Motors Gremlin Randy Blue 131   28 2:25.703
21 22 Jim Fitzgerald (USA)
Linda Sharp (USA)
Bill Harris (USA)
Datsun B210 Linda Sharp 128   31 2:26.114
22 33 Eric Morrow (USA)
Charles Moseley (USA)
Buzz Cason (USA)^
Plymouth Arrow Music City Racing 127   41 2:30.049
23 07 Bill Warner (USA)
Rich Lee (USA)
Honda Civic Rich Lee 127   52 2:42.083
24 03 Bobby Diehl (USA)
Doug Kenny (USA)
Joe Varde (USA)
American Motors Gremlin Joe Varde 126   25 2:25.538
25 82 Bill Johnson (USA)
Corky Bell (USA)
Datsun 710 North Star Racing 125   44 2:30.209
26 04 James Story (USA)
John Story (USA)
Ray Barnes (USA)
Leroy Dickson (USA)*
Ford Capri Razinante Enterprises 124   68 no time
27 09 Bennett Aiken (USA)
Robert Dumont (USA)
Ford Pinto Bennet Aiken 123   43 2:30.130
28 11 Don C. Devendorf (USA)
Dick Starita (USA)
G.H.Sharp (USA)
Datsun B210 Dick Starita 120   22 2:24.282
29 86 Don Rice (USA)
Liz Kleinschmidt (USA)
Charles Kleinschmidt (USA)
Irv Hoerr (USA)*
Scott Racing (USA)*
American Motors Spirit Hoerr Brothers 116   46 2:33.030
NRF 88 Jon McKnight (USA)
Judy Stropus (USA)
Rob McFarlin (USA)^
Datsun 510 MAS Racing 113   23 2:24.390
31 12 Jim Stricklin (USA)
John Eckelberry (USA)
Datsun 510 Jim Stricklin 112   59 no time
32 87 John Evans (USA)
V. Jay Elmore (USA)
Ford Pinto Robert Buchler 110   65 no time
DNF 5 Bob Esseltine (CDN)
Paul Lambke (CDN)
Datsun 510 Bob Esseltine 103   39 2:29.696
DNF 0 Glenn Worthington (USA)
Bob Lee (USA)
Chevrolet Vega Bob Lee 90   55 2:49.586
DNF 42 Bob Feld Jr (USA)
Rick Gaines (USA)
American Motors Gremlin American Raceway Leasing 87   18 2:21.879
DNF 64 Wayne Stradley (USA)
Ray Mummery (USA)
American Motors Pacer Wayne Stradley 85   50 2:38.484
DNF 01 Joe Varde (USA)
David Cowart (USA)
American Motors Spirit Varde/Llauget 83   66 no time
NC 84 Daniel Bonner (USA)
William Kull Sr (USA)
Ford Pinto William Kull Sr 82   64 no time
DNF 78 Hurley Haywood (USA)
Rob McFarlin (USA)
Mazda RX-3 Performance Innovations 80   10 2:19.215
DNF 48 Nort Northam (USA)
William L. Shaw (USA)
Honda Civic International Racing Systems 76   49 2:37.933
DNF 31 Randy Davis (USA)
Herb Kanady (USA)
American Motors Gremlin R&R Racing 76   32 2:26.381
DNF 59 Milton Moise (USA)
Emory Donaldson (USA)
Don Courtney (USA)
American Motors Spirits Milton Moise 73   20 2:22.833
DNF 16 Danny Smith (USA)
Rodney Ashcraft (USA)
American Motors Gremlin Danny Smith 68   19 2:21.895
NC 62 J. Speight Sugg Jr (USA)
Marion L. Speer (USA)
BMW 2002 J. Speight Sugg Jr 68   35 2:28.252
DNF 21 Andy Vann (USA)
Ed Mottern (USA)
American Motors Gremlin Andy Vann 63   21 2:23.570
DNF 50 Eddie Mecum Jr (USA)
Javier Garcia (USA)
Buick Skyhawk Eddie Mecum Sr 62   13 2:19.785
DNF 54 Byron Wever (USA)
Bill Whittington (USA)
Dale Kreider (USA)^
Mazda RX-3 Wever/Palmer 58 accident 7 2:18.621
DNF 17 Pat Daily (USA)
Tim Kuykendall (USA)
Datsun 200SX Balboa Datsun 40   38 2:29.507
DNF 19 Rick Knoop (USA)
Bob Akin (USA)
American Motors Gremlin Southwind Enterprises 34   14 2:20.591
DNF 96 Gene Felton (USA)
Tom Sheehy (USA)^
Luis Sereix (US)^
Buick Skyhawk Gene Felton 32   1 2:16.169
DNF 92 Manny Matz (USA)
Jerry Hoopert (USA)
Terry Luxford (USA)*
BMW 2002 Rolls Canard 32   53 2:43.484
DNF 9 Mark Mellon (USA)
Jerry Reid (USA)^
Gary Tiller (USA)^
Ford Pinto Jerry Reid 23   58 no time
DNF 3 Jeff Dearduff (USA)
Bob Dearduff (USA)^
Mazda RX-3 Bob Dearduff 22   51 2:40.721
DNF 83 Chuck Grantham (USA)
Milt Griswold (USA)^
Ford Pinto Milt Griswold 22   54 2:46.950
DNF 73 Jerry Cohen (USA)
Stephen Behr (USA)^
BMW 320i Foreign Car Clinic 21   24 2:25.498
DNF 81 James Jordan (USA)
Alan Marsh (USA)
Datsun 510 MAS Racing 20   36 2:28.575
DNF 39 George Clark (USA)
George Hair (USA)^
David Sloyer (USA)^
Oldsmobile Starfire George Clark 20   47 2:36.187
DNF 06 Bonnie Henn (USA)
Preston Henn (USA)^
Byron Henn (USA)^
American Motors Pacer Preston Henn 10   57 2:57.608
DNF 49 Paul McDonald (USA)
Ernie Smith (USA)^
Ford Maverick Richard Wagner 8   56 2:55.373
DNF 57 Van McDonald (USA)
Rick Jaeschke (USA)^
Datsun 200SX Rick Jaeschke 7   34 2:26.890
DNF 75 Ron Oyler (USA)
Don Reisinger (USA)^
Don Jones (USA)^
American Motors Pacer Ron Oyler 5   63 no time
DNF 55 Lee White (USA)
Dick read (USA)^
Ford Pinto Dick read 1   17 2:21.878
DNS 69 Phil Currin (USA)
Kal Showket (USA)
American Motors Pacer Kal Showket     33 2:26.735
DNS 23 Nes Gurley (USA)
James Jeralds (USA)
Ford Capri Nes Gurley     45 2:31.285
DNS 46 G.H.Sharp (USA)
Bob Bergstrom (USA)
American Motors Spirit G.H.Sharp     48 2:36.441
DNS 14 Cliff Rickmers (USA)
Donnie Crider (USA)
BMW 2002 Tenn Tec Racing     60 no time
DNS 51 Rick Knoop (USA)
Bob Akin (USA)
American Motors Spirit Brant Doell     61 no time
DNS 02 Kim Kenyon (USA)
Cary Palmer (USA)
American Motors Gremlin Kim Kenyon     67 no time
DNS 05 Ralston Long (USA)
Donnie Ard (USA)
Foy Gilmore (USA)
American Motors Gremlin Donnie Ard     69 no time
DNA 1 Walt Bohren (USA) Mazda RX-2 Walt Bohren        
DNA 28 Burns Moore (USA)
Randy Keller (USA)
Ford Pinto Burns Moore        
DNA 60 Pete Harrison (USA) Buick Skyhawk Peter Harrison        
DNA 77 Skip Grenier (USA) Mazda RX-2 Skip Grenier        
DNA 00 Dale Swope (USA) American Motors Gremlin S.C.Racing        
N.B. All cars in IMSA Racing Stock class.


Winning Time: 6h00m59.440, 96.375 mph/155.100 kph
Fastest Lap: James Reeve #52 (Buick Skyhawk), 2m17.380, 100.626 mph/161.942 kph

 
* Driver entered for car, but never drove it at meeting
^ Driver practiced car, but did not race it
RES - Reserve (Practiced, on standy-by for start)
REE - Reserve Entry
DNA - Did Not Arrive
DNS - Did Not Start
DNF - Did Not Finish
DNP - Did Not Practice
NC - Not Classified
DSQ - Disqualified
NRF - Not Running At Finish
NAC - Not Accepted
REJ - Rejected (Did not pass scrutineering)


Last Updated on 03/01/2004
By Darren Galpin
Email: Darren.Galpin@virgin.net